Folios: 428v-430. Charters of privileges. Charter by which Edward III confirms those...

Folios: 428v-430. Charters of privileges. Charter by which Edward III confirms those liberties, which he granted to Henry, earl of Lancaster, to John, duke of Lancaster, and Blanche his wife, daughter and heir of the said Henry.

First party: Edward III.

Second Party: John, earl of Richmond, the king's son [John of Gaunt].

Place or Subject: Whereas Edward III lately, on 7 May 16 Edw. III, by his charter granted to Henry, then earl of Lancaster, that he and his heirs in tail and all his men were to be forever quit of pavage, passage, payage, lastage, stallage, tallage, carriage, pesage, pickage and land-tax throughout the whole realm, and that the earl and his heirs should have forever the returns of all the king's writs and those of his heirs, and summons from the king's Exchequer and that of hsi heirs, and attachments both for pleas of the crown and also about any others in all their lands and fees. In such a way that no sheriff or other bailiff or minister of the king or his heirs is to enter those lands or fees to make executions of those writs and summons or attachments about pleas of the crown or others, or do any other office there, except in default of the earl and his heirs and his bailiffs and ministers in their lands and fees. And that they should have the chattels of their men and tenements, felons and fugitives, in such a way that, if any of their men or tenants ought to lose life or member for their offence or flees and does not want to stand to judgement, or commits any other offence for which he ought to lose his chattels, wherever justice is be done about him in the king's court or that of the king's heirs or in another court, those chattels are to be of the same earl and his heirs, and that it should be lawful for them or their ministers, without impediment of the king or his heirs, sheriffs or other the king's bailiffs or ministers, to place themselves in seisin of those chattels, and retain them to the use of the earl and his heirs. And also that they should have forever all fines for trespasses and other offences, and fines for licence to concord and all amercements, redemptions and issues forfeited and to be forfeited, the year, day, waste and estrepement, and all things which could pertain to the king and his heirs about these kinds of year, day, waste and murder-fines concerning all men and tenants from their lands and fees in any of the king's courts and those of his heirs; and when it happens those men and tenants to make fines or be amerced and forfeit issues both before the king and his heirs in his Chancery and those of his heirs and before the king's treasurer and barons and those of his heirs of the Exchequer, and before the king's justices and those of his heirs of the Bench, and before the steward amd marshals or clerk of the market of the king's household and those of his heirs, and others of the king's courts and those of his heirs, and also before the justices itinerant for common pleas and pleas of the forest and any other of the king's justices and ministers and those of his heirs, both in the king's presence and those of his heirs, and also in his and their absence, when it happens the year, day and waste or forfeitures and murder-fines are adjudged. Which fines, amercements, redemptions, issues, year, day, waste or estrepement, forfeitures and murder-fines could pertain to the king or his heirs, if they have not been granted to the earl and his heirs. The earl and his heirs, by themselves or by their bailiffs and ministers, can levy, receive and have these fines, amercements, redemptions, issues and forfeitures of their men and tenants and all things which could pertain to the king and his heirs from the said year, day and waste or estrepement and murder-fines without occasion or impediment of the king of his heirs, his justices, escheators, sheriffs, coroners or other his bailiffs or ministers. Which charter, after the death of the earl, Henry, his son and heir, to whom all the lands and tenements, which were of the earl, descended by right, has handed over to the king to be cancelled. The king, noticing the things which were granted by him in fee tail to the earl and his heirs in tail, of which the earl by virtue of the said grant was seised in his demesne as of fee on the day, on which he died, by the surrender of the said charter by Henry, son of Henry, so made, and by any other deed of Henry the son to the prejudice and disinheritance of his heirs in tail, according to the law and custom of the realm cannot be annulled, but ought to remain in their force, and wishing to show special grace to John, now duke of Lancaster, who has married Blanche, daughter and heir of Henry, son of Henry, afterwards duke of Lancaster, and to Blanche, which John and Blanche now hold all the lands and tenements, which were both of Henry the father and also of Henry the son by right of inheritance, as in the right of Blanche in tail by Henry, now grants to John, now duke of Lancaster, and to Blanche his wife, daughter and heir of Henry, son of Henry, those liberties, to hold to them and the heirs of the bodies of John and Blanche.

Additional people: (witnesses) S. bishop of Ely, chancellor [Simon Langham]; J. bishop of Bath and Wells, treasurer [John Barnet]; Lionel, duke of Clarence, the king's son [Lionel of Antwerp]; Humphrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford; Richard [fitz Alan], earl of Arundel; Edward le Despenser, lord of Glomorgan [Glamorgan] and Morgannowe [Morgannwg]; Guy de Bryan; and John atte Lee, steward of the king's household.

Dated at Westminster.

14 July 38 Edw III.